The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-09-11

mend Miss Brighteyes, were half dozen
offices in the very next block looking anx-
iously for secretaries and collectors.
Painful as it is to dash the hopes of ambi-
tious but unsophisticated girlhood, and to
crush an innocent vanity, the truth must be
spoken to the Journals correspondent and
the sooner she and the thousands of others
like her realize its force the better it will be
for them. The plain fact is that beauty is not
a business qualification. If the young woman
with yellow hair and sea-shell complexion
can manipulate type writer, or take steno-
graphic notes and translate them afterwards,
or is an accurate and skilled accountant, then
she has an equipment which justifes her in
applying for clerical position. Possessing
the practical accomplishments the fair face
is added advantage, doubtless, for the
grimmest and grayest employer is but human;
but against beauty without the skill, freck-
led and cross-eyed but experienced rival will
invariably win. The country is full of rest
less and romantic girls who fancy that
fortune and prosperity await them if
they can only obtain employment in
large city. They have read stories in the
patent insides of their county paper in which
beautiful private secretaries or confidential
clerks of wealthy and distinguished men are
and confidential clerk figure prominently in
third class fiction These fortunate beings
described in the stories wear elegant gowns,
have little or nothing to do, and eventually
and heirs. They have also read great deal of
nonsense concerning the irresistible power of
pretty women. Putting two and two to-
gether, they see reason why they should
not go out and have successful careers as well
as their favorite heroines. A little experience
and few hard knocks, such all who en-
gage in the work of the world must receive,
soon destroys all illusions. They learn that
in the struggle for existence it is each one for
him self, and that for the fair face there are
no favors, but perhaps exceptional perils. If
the struggle is indeed one for bread and but
ter, then is the case of inexperienced girls
unfortunate indeed. The only advice that
can be given to such is to prepare themselves
for work before applying for it. Learn type
writing, learn book keeping learn stenogra-
phy-learn something, anything, well-and
when this is done look for employment among
friends and not strangers. As for those who
have homes, they should stay there. Inde-
pendence and self-reliance are well enough in
their place, but they are not always COM
mendable virtues when they move girl to
leave a home-even humble one-where she
is welcome to remain. Circumstances COM
pei many women to work their own way in
the world, but the sentiment which leads
the daughter of we'll to-do parents to become
bread-winner, increasing in popularity
though it is, is not an admirable one.
If the little girl who wrote to the Journal
has home, there she had better stay let her
at least remain until she has fitted herself to
fly abroad, for
THE birdis safest in its nest;
Ger all that futter their wings to fly
hawk is lowering in the sky.
To stay at home is best.